Viking Singers Join Record-Breaking Choir

Young singers from the Viking Academy Trust in Thanet have joined the world’s largest children’s choir. Pupils from Trust partners Upton Junior School in Broadstairs and Ramsgate Arts Primary joined with around 7,000 others at London’s 02 Arena for a spectacular show.

It is part of the annual Young Voices event in the UK that sees around 120,000 choir members singing at major venues in Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and London over a number of nights.

The Upton and Ramsgate Arts Primary teams joined thousands of others to perform to a packed audience of families and friends.

The Young Voices aim is to inspire a love of music and create memories for the children that will last a lifetime.

The YV team say:

“Nothing can prepare you for the sound of thousands of children singing together. With a full 7-piece live band made up of some of the UK’s leading musicians, backing singers, and the internationally acclaimed conductor David Lawrence – it makes for one of the most exciting and memorable musical experiences you can imagine.

Our music is specially selected to create a diverse musical repertoire all with the intention to introduce children to the widest possible spectrum of music.

By providing a diverse range of musical styles children will learn, enjoy, and gain a fuller understanding of music and what it means to sing together. We also aspire to connect families through music and to share in the learning experience when children practice at home.”

The Upton Junior School team was accompanied by Year 3 teachers Isobel Reed and Lauren Watmough, who run the weekly singing club, and Year 6 teaching assistant Rosie Brown.

They said:

“The Upton singers were proud to be part of a huge community children’s choir that spans the UK.”

Ramsgate Arts Primary Year 2 teacher Alice Rees-Boughton said:

“It was an experience of a lifetime for our RAPS pupils. They loved every second.”

Songs that the Viking Academy Trust schools performed included a Stevie Wonder medley, Ed Sheeran’s ‘Castle on a Hill’, Rag n Bone Man’s ‘Human’, and ‘I’m Yours’ by Jason Mraz.